Office of the Historian

795.00/10–2353

Memorandum by the President to the Secretary of State

top secret
[Washington,] October 23, 1953.

I have just read the cable from General Hull, together with your covering memorandum.1

Your memorandum does not indicate that the Vice President had a thorough briefing on our attitude with respect to future actions in Korea; he should be carefully warned to leave no doubt in President Rhee’s mind on certain basic questions, should they come up for discussion.

I realize that our defense staffs are now studying the question as to what we should do in a military way in the event that President Rhee should initiate unilateral action to resume hostilities in Korea. I understand, however, that there is no difference of opinion as to our determination not to be involved if he should take any such extraordinary and foolish action.

In general, I agree with the recommendations contained in paragraph eight of General Hull’s cable. If there is any question about the matter, I think you and I should have a talk about it soon. If you do not think such a talk is necessary, I hope you will take prompt steps to see that Vice President Nixon is briefed along these lines.2

DE
  1. Dated Oct. 21, p. 1542.↩
  2. In a memorandum to President Eisenhower, Oct. 23, Dulles assured the President that the Department of State would brief Vice President Nixon, who had left Oct. 7 for an extensive trip to the Middle and Far East, before he got to Korea. (795.00/10–2353)↩